Context
In many countries around the world, burning non-renewable biomass is one of the primary sources of heat and energy used for cooking. However, these stoves are often inefficient in making the most effective use of the available fuel, leading to unsustainable deforestation and higher greenhouse gas emissions due to burning a greater amount of biomass than necessary. This air pollution directly impacts local public health, invariably leading to respiratory issues in those exposed to it - especially women and children.
In Tanzania, for example, over 90% of its 48 million population rely primarily on biomass such as firewood or charcoal for their daily energy needs. As of 2020, statistics showed that only 5% had access to clean fuels for cooking, leaving 95% with no better option than using polluting sources such as wood and charcoal.
To tackle this issue, ‘cleaner cookstoves’ can be installed with numerous benefits for both people and the environment. Not only would this reduce the volume of greenhouse gas emissions produced by using more efficient stoves, but it would also alleviate some of the burden placed upon women and children by requiring less time spent collecting fuel daily. Furthermore, fuel efficiency means that households would need less wood or charcoal overall, reducing deforestation rates and creating healthier living conditions.
The improved health benefits could also be substantial; cleaner cookstoves produce significantly less smoke which can decrease cases of respiratory diseases caused by air pollution within homes or villages. In addition to this, other social benefits may arise from having access to cleaner forms of energy - increased safety due to reduced risk associated with combustion processes, improved quality of life due to increased economic freedom from spending fewer funds on fuel collection/purchasing costs, and greater educational opportunities from having more time available for study purposes amongst others.
Therefore, investing in cleaner cookstoves contributes towards a healthier planet with reduced greenhouse gas emissions and greatly improves people's quality of life through its various social benefits – making it an incredibly valuable step towards achieving a sustainable future for all humankind.
Project
This project aims to distribute and install 500,000 improved cookstoves throughout Tanzania to replace less efficient cooking setups – often open fires. Over the 10-year period from September 2020 to September 2030, this project is predicted to avoid producing a total of 18.8 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions – an average of 1.8 million each year.
In order to ensure that these emissions reductions are being achieved, data will be collected on the use of the stoves. This includes an initial visual inspection within 12 months of introduction into a household - where an interview with the end user may be conducted if required - in order to ascertain if the stove is operational and in use. Additionally, there will be an annual interview with end users to measure the daily quantity of firewood used in the project stove.
Implementing this project also brings several major benefits for local people, such as gaining more time and money, which can be put towards other income-generating activities, as well as heightened health benefits thanks to decreased exposure to air pollution in the home. Moreover, food security has increased due to improved nutrient retention from reduced cook times.
It is important to note that projects such as this usually bring more tangible results for women than men; since it is usually women who are responsible for operating and maintaining cooking equipment within project areas. By providing access to fuel-efficient cookstoves, women can save time which would have been spent on long and laborious cooking tasks - allowing them more free time or time which can be dedicated towards money-making activities, therefore leading to an enhanced level of gender equity in these areas.
Verification
This project is verified by the Verified Carbon Standard and Verra’s Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SD VISta). You can view it on the Verra Registry here.
